Choices: 'The Epic Fail' or 'I've Learned a Lot'

Choices

The choice is mine.  When I decide to go a new direction in my jewelry making (or life in general) I try to do my research.  What will I need to know and what tools will I need to have?  Two very important questions to be successful.  I may need to read, listen, take classes and review the tools in my toolbox.  I decide what to add and then start the project.

This time I'm learning about sheet metal, solder, and torches.  Several months ago I purchased a DVD  "'Fold Forming' by Eva Sherman.  It was fun to make her copper cuffs and I followed her instructions perfectly.  That was undoubtedly the key to success - follow the instructions!

see another cuff at https://www.etsy.com/listing/561289671/copper-cuff-fold-formed-copper-copper?ref=shop_home_active_4
Then I took a class on making a cuff given by Jeff Fulkerson.  The class was a stretch for my skill set but eventually I completed the silver cuff. 

 

So far so good.  And then life stepped in and due to several events (being sick for a month was one of them) I did not do any more work in metal or soldering. . 

I'm back in my studio ready to work and one of my first projects is going to be another silver cuff - An animal design piercing a rectangular piece of sterling silver to be soldered on another piece of silver.


I read my notes, thought I remembered what I needed to do and started to tin (silver) the back of the design piece.  I looked down and was surprised to find I melted the top 1/2 inch of silver.  I mean melted, it was gone.  I stopped and thought about what and why this happened. 


My findings:  I did not do a practice piece; I thought I remembered everything to do; my torch was too hot; my torch tip too big; I was impatient.

My choice - to realize I've learned some lessons here.  This is not an epic failure.  It is a disappointment and an opportunity to be creative with the remaining piece of the design. 

And isn't that the way of life?  The choice of learning, of being creative and making the best of what we have instead of seeing mistakes and disappointments as epic failures.   
  
Stay tuned to see what the remaining silver becomes!

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Location: Prescott, AZ, USA

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